MILWAUKEE – The Alverno softball team played host to the Marian Sabres during the penultimate weekend of the 2021 regular season on the Alverno Softball Field. The Sabres swept the doubleheader by the scores of 24-1 and 12-1.
 
Following the games the Inferno celebrated 'Senior Day' in an on-field ceremony recognizing seniors Lauren Greif and Kaitlynn Schmick for their four-year careers with the Alverno softball program.
 
Schmick, who was injured a day prior in the opening doubleheader against Marian on Saturday, was unable to play but took to the circle as she was entered into the lineup card and was then removed for Greif, who gets credit for the pitching appearance.
 
Greif led the Inferno on the day with a pair of hits on the afternoon, while driving in one of Alverno's two runs on the day.
 
Also collecting hits for the Inferno were junior Natalie Akin, sophomore Izzy Torres, and freshman Andrea Ramirez. Newcomer Lily Kostka also registered the first hit of her career with a single in game two. Torres had Alverno's lone RBI in the second game for the Inferno.
 
In terms of pitching Greif tossed 4 1/3 innings over two different stints in the circle as she allowed just five earned runs and struck out a pair. Freshman Maggie Wilmot tossed 2/3 of an inning and struck out a batter, but was touched up for 11 runs.
 
During the second game, Torres got the start and ultimately tossed four innings after two separate appearances in the circle. Torres allowed five earned and struck out one batter. Akin tossed two innings and also struck out one batter as she also yielded five earned runs.
 
Game 1
Marian scored first in the top of the first with a two-out solo home run, before adding a pair of solo home runs in the top of the second inning. The Sabres put together a 10-run inning in the third to move ahead by a 13-0 score.
 
In the bottom of the third, Ramirez led off with a double on an 0-1 pitch and was pinch ran for by classmate Sara Jankowski. Three batters later, Jankowski advanced to third on a wild pitch before Greif singled her home to break up the Marian shutout bid. The Sabres responded with 11 runs in the top of the fourth to open up a 24-1 lead.
 
Alverno went down in order in the fourth, but sophomore Megan Bradford was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the fifth to put a baserunner on. However, Alverno was unable to bring her around as the Sabres picked up the game one victory.
 
Game 2
Torres tossed a 1-2-3 top of the first inning to open the night cap, before Akin connected on a two-out single in the bottom of the first to put a runner on before she was stranded.
 
In the top of the second, Marian broke through on the scoreboard first on a triple, followed by a double. The Sabres added four more runs in the top of the third inning with a pair stranded as Torres got out of the frame.
 
With the Sabres leading by five, Alverno got back with a run as Kostka led off with a single on a 1-0 pitch before sophomore Ashley Flores erased Kostka on a fielder's choice. Two batters later, Torres connected on a single to left centerfield and made it around to third base on an error by Marian, as Flores came all the way around to score to make the score 5-1 in favor of Marian.
 
The Sabres got the run back in the fourth inning with a run-scoring double to regain a five-run lead.
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, Marian scored six runs in the fifth inning to open up a 12-1 lead, and in the process, Torres took back over for Akin who was unable to get an out in the frame.
 
Alverno went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, as Marian picked up the four-game weekend sweep over the Inferno.
 
Up Next
Alverno (1-23, 0-16 NACC North) will wrap-up non-conference play, when the Concordia Chicago Cougars come to Milwaukee for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. on the Alverno Softball Field.